German Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp speaks with players and staff during training at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on May 27, 2022, ahead of the Champions League final against Real Madrid (AFP / Paul ELLIS)
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The big clubs are eternal, and the Liverpool-Real Madrid poster offers a magnificent Champions League final on Saturday (9 p.m.) at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, under the fervor of supporters who came en masse to support their team in an atmosphere festive.
Karim Benzema against Sadio Mané, Carlo Ancelotti against Jürgen Klopp, the revenge of Mohamed Salah, tens of thousands of fans in the French capital: everything is ready for “the most important match in world football”, as the Italian coach of Real.
Presentation of the 2021-2022 Champions League final Liverpool vs Real Madrid, at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, Saturday May 28 (AFP / )
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The “White House” can extend its incredible record with a 14th trophy, and the “Reds” conquer a seventh and join AC Milan in second place among the European giants.
Liverpool-Real becomes the first poster played three times in the C1 final, but this classic is furiously modern: it will clarify the duel for the Ballon d’Or between Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané.
To win this prestigious prize, which will be awarded in October, Benzema will be a huge favorite in the event of European coronation on Saturday. “If he has this title in addition, it can only go in the right direction” for the Ballon d’Or, summed up the coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps on Saturday.
“Benz”, who will be captain at the kick-off, has sublimated Real this season in C1, with 15 achievements, also winning the 35th title of Spanish champion of Madrid and the Supercup of Spain. He is “the most underrated player in history” launched UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, interviewed by AFP.
Karim Benzema on the Stade de France pitch, on May 27, 2022, during Real Madrid training on the eve of their final against Liverpool in the Champions League ( AFP / JAVIER SORIANO )
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Mané, he missed the Premier League by one point, beaten by Manchester City, but he won the two national cups in England.
The striker also guided Senegal to their first African Cup of Nations in February against partner Mohamed Salah’s Egypt.
The latter, another candidate for the Ballon d’Or, had to abandon the previous final against Real in kyiv in 2018, injured after a muscular intervention by Sergio Ramos.
– A beautiful more than a revenge –
Photo montage of Liverpool and Real Madrid strikers, Egyptian Mohamed Salah, on April 13 against Benfica, and Frenchman Karim Benzema, on April 30 against Espanyol, who will face each other in the Champions League final , May 28, 2022 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (AFP / Paul ELLIS)
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“I am very motivated, fully motivated, warns Salah, after what happened with Madrid last time. It was the worst moment of my career.”
Rather than a revenge, it is a beautiful one, since Liverpool had won the first final, in 1981 (1-0), at the Parc des Princes, at a time when the Stade de France, built for the World Cup- 1998, did not exist.
This title remained in the memories of Liverpool fans, who swept over Paris where we had not seen so many football fans since Euro-2016.
In all, 6,800 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were mobilized by the Paris Police Prefecture to ensure the security of the match, with an eye on the thousands of “Reds” fans who came without tickets, a figure which could reach 30,000 to 40,000 supporters.
On Saturday, a red wave swept over the “fan zone” reserved for Liverpool supporters, on the Cours de Vincennes side, in the east of Paris, where concerts and giant screens are planned to follow the match.
All in an atmosphere for the moment good child. The police carried out a dozen arrests for minor offenses such as street selling, the Prefecture of Police said in the afternoon.
“Sunshine, cold beers, all our friends around, a nice big screen: what more could we want? Thank you Paris for the warm welcome!” Says Henry Coyle, 52, with a smile. , from Belfast.
“We took all of Paris!” Adds Rohan Sood, 22, who arrived from London on Thursday with a group of friends and says he is transported by “the crazy atmosphere”.
Real Madrid supporters who came for the Champions League final against Liverpool in the fan zone reserved for them in Saint-Denis on May 28, 2022 (AFP / ABDULMONAM EASSA)
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The people of Madrid gathered in another “fan zone” in Saint-Denis, where some supporters dressed in white danced to the rhythm of Latino pop songs.
“I’m very calm, I think we’re going to win, Real Madrid are very lucky”, explained, confident, Mariano Brasal, 66, a retired baker, who came to watch the match with his son.
– Duel Ancelotti-Klopp –
The final also offers a superb duel of coaches.
Twice unfortunate finalist, with Dortmund in 2013 and Liverpool in 2018, the German Jürgen Klopp learned to win the following year.
Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti during training at the Stade de France, on the eve of the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 27, 2022 ( AFP / JAVIER SORIANO )
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On the other bench, the Italian “Mister” Carlo Ancelotti, who directs his men with an eyebrow movement, is a great specialist in the event, which he has already won three times as coach, with AC Milan (2003, 2007) and during a first visit to Madrid (2014).
However, Liverpool also reminds him of a bad memory: in 2005, his Milan led 3-0 in the final before being brought up in six minutes by the Reds and losing on penalties (3-3 after, 3 on pens). 2).
The Liverpool coach during a press briefing at the club’s training center on May 25, 2022, three days before the C1 final (AFP / Paul ELLIS)
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But this season, it is Real de “Carletto” who has specialized in fantastic comebacks. Swallowed PSG (0-1, 3-1), jostled Chelsea (3-1, 2-3 ap), knocked down Manchester City (3-4, 3-1 ap)!
The Italian technician has also renewed his expected eleven, with his unstoppable middle trio, made up of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro, according to the composition communicated by the club.
All set to rewrite a wild new storyline, one that would truly make history in this finale.
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